Can closure assembly



Nov. 29, 1966 KARKUT 3,288,324

CAN CLOSURE AS SEMBLY Filed June 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 3

.9 ,4 Henry E. K ar/ruf INVL'NI'OR.

awn Wang 3? M 1 Nov. 29, 1966 H. E. KARKUT 3,288,324

CAN CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed June 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4 64 68 Henry E. Karlruf IN V ENTOR.

m WWW 5m United States Patent M 3,288,324 CAN (JLOSURE ASSEMBLY Henry E. Karkut, Baldwinsville, N.Y., assiguor to Henry E. Karlrut, Inc, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,211 17 Claims. ((11. 22057) The instant application comprises a continuation-in-part of my copending U.S. application Serial No. 228,352 for Combined Paint Pump, Paint Can Closure and Paint Applicator, filed October 4-, 1962, now Patent No. 3,192,554.

This invention relates to a novel and useful can closure assembly and more specifically to a closure assembly designed primarily for use in removably closing containers such as cans including a framework or annular partial top wall although it is to be appreciated that the closure assembly of the instant invention may be utilized in conjunction with various types of containers as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The can closure assembly of the instant invention includes a panel-like closure member which is adapted to overlie the inner peripheral edge portions of the annular partial top wall of a paint can or the like in fluid-tight sealing engagement therewith. In addition, an elongated resilient panel-like body member is provided and is adapted to overlie the closure member in vertically spaced relation thereto with the opposite ends of the body member projecting outwardly beyond opposite sides of the associated container or can. Means is provided for maintaining the central portions of the closure member and body member in vertically spaced relation and the opposite ends of the elongated body member are provided with depending arm means including gripping means at their lower ends adapted to engage an outwardly projecting reinforcing flange extending about the top of the associated container. In this manner, after having first positioned the closure member in overlying relation to the inner peripheral portions of the annular partial top wall of the container with the lower end portions of the arms supported from the body member disposed above the retaining flange formed about the top of the container, the opposite end portions of the body member may be urged downwardly and have the gripping means thereon engaged with the retaining flange about the top of the can. With the body member thus flexed and engaged with the retaining flange, the resiliency of the body member will urge the closure member downwardly into fluid-tight sealing engagement with the partial top wall of the container.

In addition to the above, several species of the closure can assembly disclosed herein include movable cam means for varying the spatial relationship between the central portions of the closure member and body member and are therefore adapted to be utilized in conjunction with various types of containers as closures therefor.

The main object of this invention is to provide a closure cover assembly for a container of the type including upstanding side walls and a frame-like partial wall extending about and projecting inwardly from the upper edges of the side walls of the container.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a closure cover assembly which will also be adapted for use in conjunction with containers not including frame-like partial top walls but outwardly projecting flange means supported from opposite sides of the associated can or container a spaced distance below the upper end of the can against which the closure member is to be seated.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a closure cover assembly for a container of the afOrementioned type and including means adapting the closure cover assembly to be utilized in conjunction with various types of containers.

3,288,324 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 An ancillary object of this invention is to provide a closure cover assembly adapted to be removably secured to a container such as a conventional form of paint can in lieu of the conventional form of paint can top and including means by which paint within the paint can may be pumped from the interior thereof while the closure cover assembly of the instant invention is secured thereto.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a closure cover assembly for containers such as paint cans which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional form of container shown with a first form of the closure cover of the instant invention operatively associated therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 shown with portions of the paint can and closure cover broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURE 3 but showing a second form of closure cover;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to that of FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings but showing a third form of closure cover;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of a conventional form of paint can on somewhat of an enlarged scale and shown with a fourth form of the closure cover of the instant invention operatively associated therewith;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to that of FIGURE 6 but showing the body member of the closure cover in a relaxed position;

FIGURE 8 is a further fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of a paint can but showing a fifth form of the closure cover of the instant invention operatively associated therewith, portions of the closure cover being broken away and shown in section; and

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the fifth form of closure cover of the instant invention illustrated in FIGURE 8.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of container such as a paint can. The paint can 10 includes an annular partial top wall 12 which is secured to the upper edges of the side walls 14 of the container 10 by means of a reinforcing head or flange portion 1-6. Further, the partial top wall 12 include an inner peripheral seating flange portion 18 and an upwardly opening circumferential groove 20,

It is to be noted that the construction of the partial top wall 12 is conventional and that a suitably contoured top or closure (not shown) is removably engaged with the seating flange 18 and groove 20 when the paint can 10 is marketed with the paint 22 therein.

Although the conventional paint can top is adequate in most instances to close the can 10 after the paint 22 has been placed therein, after the can 10 has been opened and a portion of the paint 22 has been removed by dipping a paint brush or the like into the paint 22, a residue of paint is normally allowed to collect in the groove 20.

Thi residue of paint will sometimes harden and thus limit and interfere with the interfitting engagement of the conventional top with the paint can in order to subsequently close the latter. Accordingly, many painters have thought that a paint can had been re-sealed when in fact a complete seal had not been formed by the reapplied top with the paint can and in these instances the paint within the unsealed can dries and is thus rendered useless.

The closure cover assembly of the instant invention is not designed to re-seal the top of the can 10 by sealing engagement of the closure cover assembly with the groove 20, but by sealing engagement of the closure cover with the sealing flange 18. Inasmuch as this sealing flange 18 is elevated considerably above the groove 20 and the closure cover assembly of the instant invention does not include portions thereof which project downwardly to the bottom of the groove 20 as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, the application of the closure cover assembly to the can 10 will be assured of a fluid-tight seal being formed between the sealing flange 18 and the closure cover assembly.

In addition, it is contemplated that the cans 10 may initially be marketed with the closure cover assembly of the instant invention applied thereto in lieu of the conventional form of paint can top. The utilization of such a closure for the can 10 would not only enable the latter to be readily opened and re-sealed, but it would also limit the amount of loss which is normally incurred when paint cans sealed with the conventional tops are dropped and deformed so that the fluid pressure within the can forcibly ejects the conventional top from engagement with the can. Inasmuch a the closure cover assembly of the instant invention includes means for yieldably urging the closure member thereof into tight sealing engagement with the sealing flange 18, the closure cover assembly of the instant invention would be capable of re-fitting the closure member thereof to the top of the can after the closure cover had been popped off due to an increase of pressure within the can.

The closure cover assembly of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 26 and includes a circular disc-like closure member 28 including a downwardly opening circumferential groove 30 at its outer periphery which snugly receives the seating flange 18 when the closure member 28 is disposed over the open upper end of the can 10, see FIGURE 3. The closure cover assembly 26 further includes an elongated panellike anchor assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 which is provided for yieldingly retaining the closure member 28 in sealed engagement with the sealing flange 18. The anchor assembly 32 includes an elongated panel-like body member 34 having a pair of opposite end downturned arms 36. The arms 36 are formed integrally with the body member 26 and of a resilient material such as any suitable metal. The arms 36 each include a pair of inwardly struck portions 38 and 39 defining gripping means engageable with the lower edge portion 40 of the reinforcing flange 16. The body member 34 includes a pair of downwardly directed dimples 42 and the closure member 28 has a calm plate 44 rotatably supported from its upper surface provided with a pair of arcuate stepped wedge ramps 46 registered with the dimples 42. The closure member 28, the cam disc 44, and the body portion 34 include alined apertures 48, 50 and 52, respectively, and a tubular fitting 54 is secured through the apertures 48, 50 and 52 by mean of a retailiing ring 56. The upper and lower ends of the tubular fitting 54 have a pair of tubing members 58 and 60 secured thereto and it is to be noted that the tubing members 58 and 6t and the interconnecting fitting 54 may be utilized to dispense the paint 22 from the interior of the can 10 while the closure cover assembly 26 is mounted on the can 10. The tubular fitting 54 comprises a pivot fastener for pivotally securing the closure cover 28, the

cam disc 44, and the body member 34 together for rotation relative to each other. In operation, the closure cover assembly 26 is positioned over the top of the can 10 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings with the seating flange 18 received in the groove or channel 30. Then, the lower end portions of the arms 36 are forced downwardly so as to engage the upper edge portions of the laterally struck portions 38 beneath the lower edge 40 of the retaining flange 16. Then, the cam disc 44 may be rotated relative to the closure member 28 and the body portion 34 by means of the upwardly projecting thumb flanges 60 carried thereby so as to in effect advance the detents 42 up the stepped wedge ramps 46 thereby urging the central portion of the body member 34 away from the closure member 28 and bowing the body member 34 so that its inherent resiliency will effect a downward thrust on the closure member 28 so as to urge the latter into tight frictional engagement with the sealing flange 18.

Should the sealing flange 18 be disposed in a horizontal plane spaced considerably above the upper end of the can 10, the laterally struck portion 39 may be engaged with the lower surfaces 40 of the retaining flanges 16 in lieu of the laterally struck portions 38. Still further, should the can 10 not be provided with a partial top wall such as partial top wall 12 and be somewhat smaller in diameter so that the upper edges of the side wall 14 are received in the groove 30, the laterally struck portions 38 and 39 may be engaged with outwardly projecting flange portions (not shown) carried by the can and projecting outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to engage the laterally struck portions 38 and 39. In this manner, the closure cover assembly 26 may be readily utilized in conjunction with cans or containers not including partial top walls but slightly modified so as to provide flange portions spaced outwardly from the upper edges of the side walls thereof a suflicient distance for the laterally struck portions 38 and 39 to be engaged therewith while the upper edge portions of the side walls thereof are seated in the groove 30.

With attention now directed more specifically to FIG- URE 4 of the drawings, there will be seen a modified form of closure cover assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 64 and which is substantially identical to the closure cover assembly 26 excepting that a hollow sleeve-type rivet 66 is utilized in lieu of the tubular fitting 54. In addition, the hollow rivet 66 may be closed by means of a removable plug 68 snugly fitted therein.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 5 of the drawings, there will be seen a third form of the closure cover assembly generally designated by the reference numeral 70 and which is also similar to the closure cover 26 but which utilizes an integral upstanding projection 72 on its closure member 70 as a shank about which the cam plate 76 is rotatable. In addition, the upper surface 78 of the projection 72 acts as a support for the body member 80 corresponding to the body member 34 to elevate the center portion of the body member 80 while the laterally struck portions 82 are engaged with the retaining flange 84 and subsequent to the cam disc 76 being rotated so as to lift the central portion of the body member 80 above the upper surface 78.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 6 of the drawings there may be seen a fourth form of the closure cover of the instant invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 84 and which represents a closure cover assembly similar to the closure cover assembly 70 but constructed in a manner so as to eliminate the necessity of a cam disc such as the cam disc 78. The projection 86 of the assembly 84 corresponding to the projection 72 of the assembly 70 is higher than the projection 72 and therefore forces the body portion or member 88 of the assembly 84 to be bowed when the laterally struck portions 90 of the arms 92 thereof are engaged with the flange 16. In addition, the body portion 88 is pivotally supported from the projection 86 by means of a sleeve-type rivet 94 similar to the sleeve-type rivet 66 and which also is provided with a removable closure plug 96.

It may be seen from FIGURE 7 of the drawings that the body member 88 is substantially straight before the opposite ends thereof are urged downwardly so as to engage the laterally struck portions 90 with the lower end of the flange 16.

With attention now invited to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings there will be seen a fifth form of closure cover assembly generally designed by the reference numeral 98 and which is substantially identical to the closure cover assembly 84 excepting that it does not include a sleeve-type rivet for pivotally securing the body member 100 thereof to the projection 102 of the closure member 104 thereof. In addition, the upper end of the projection 102 is provided with an imperforate top wall 106.

From a comparison of the numerous figures of the drawings it may be readily appreciated that the second, third, fourth and fifth forms of the closure cover assembly of the instant invention each operate in basically the same manner to form a closure for the associated can. Although the more simplified form of the closure cover assembly of the instant invention illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 includes two separate elements whereas the conventional closure for a paint can comprises only one element, it is believed that it will be apparent the cost of manufacture of the can and a closure cover assembly therefor corresponding to the closure cover assembly 98 will be substantially the same as the cost of manufacture of the can and a conventional form of closure cover in view of the relatively complex interfitting groove and flange portions of the conventional can and closure therefor.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A closure cover assembly for a container of the type including upstanding side walls and a frame-like partial top wall extending about and projecting inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls and also further including flange means disposed about and projecting outwardly from the upper marginal edge portions of said side walls, said closure cover assembly including a closure member adapted to overlie the inner marginal edge portions of said frame-like partial top wall in fluid tight sealed engagement therewith, closure member anchor means defining an elongated resilient body member overlying said closure panel and including a pair of depending arm means disposed at opposite ends thereof, the lower end portions of said arm means including engaging means adapted for engagement with said flange means at points spaced circumferentially about said container, and coacting abutment means carried by said body member and said closure member maintaining the portions of said body member spaced inwardly of the opposite ends thereof in vertically spaced relation above the medial plane of said closure member thereby adapting said body member, when the opposite end portions thereof are urged downwardly to positions with said engaging means engaged with said flange means, to be flexed so as to apply a downward thrust on said closure member relative to said container.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting abutment means includes cam means movably disposed between said body member and said closure member and operable to variably urge the portions of said body member disposed over the central portion of said closure member laterally away from the latter.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting abutment means includes a cam plate disposed between and rotatably supported from one of said members, said cam plate and the other of said members including opposing cam surfaces engageable with each other upon rotation of said cam plate relative to said other member for camming the adjacent portion of said members away from each other.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam plate is rotatably supported from said closure member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cam plate is generally horizontally disposed and sandwiched between said members and rotatably supported from said cover member by means of a pivot fastener secured through said members.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said pivot fastener defines a bore extending longitudinally the-rethrough.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a closure element removably engaged in and closing said bore.

8. A closure cover assembly for a container of the type including upstanding side walls and a frame-like partial top wall extending about and projecting inwardly from the upper edges of said side walls and also further including flange means disposed about and projecting outwardly from the upper marginal edge portions of said side walls, said closure cover assembly including a closure member adapted to overlie the inner marginal edge portions of said frame-like partial top wall in fluid tight sealed engagement therewith, closure member anchor .means defining an elongated resilient body member overlying said closure panel and including a pair of depending arm means disposed at opposite ends thereof, the lower end portions of said arm means including engaging means adapted for engagement with said flange means at points spaced circumferentially about said container, and coacting abutment means carried by said body member and said closure member maintaining the portions of said body member spaced inwardly of the opposite ends thereof in vertically spaced relation above the medial plane of said closure member thereby .adapting said body member, when the opposite end portions thereof are urged downwardly to positions with said engaging means engaged with said flange means, to be flexed so as to apply a downward thrust on said closure member relative to said container, said coacting abutment means including a cam plate disposed between and rotatably supported from one of said members, said cam plate and the other of said members including opposing cam surfaces engageable with each other upon rotation of said cam plate relative to said other member for camming the adjacent portion of said members away from each other, said cam plate being generally horizontally disposed and sandwiched between said members and rotatably supported from said cove-r member by means of a pivot fastener secured through said members.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said pivot fastener defines a bore extending longitudinally therethrough.

ltl. The combination of claim 9 including a closure element removably engaged in and closing said bore.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting abutment means include-s a cam plate disposed between and rotatably supported from one of said members, said cam plate and the other of said members including opposing caim surfaces engageable with each other upon rotation of said cam plate relative to said other member for camming the adjacent portion of said members away from each other, said closure member including an integral upstanding centrally disposed projection, said cam plate having a centrally disposed aperture formed therein rotatably receiving said projection.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said closure member includes a raised central portion, said body member including a central portion disposed over said closure member central portion and supported therefrom in vertically spaced relation above the medial plane of said closure member, said central portions defining said coacting abutment means.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said central portions are free of permanent connections with each other.

14. The combination of claim 12 including a pivot fastener secured through said central portions pivotally securing the latter together.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said pivot fastener defines a bore extending longitudinally therethrough.

16. The combination of claim 15 including a closure element removably engaged in and closing said bore.

17. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting abutment means includes a cam plate disposed between and rotatably supported from one of said members, said cam plate and the other of said members including opposing cam surfaces engageable with each other upon rotation of said cam plate relative to said other member for camming the adjacent portion of said members away from each other, said cam plate being generally horizontally disposed and sandwiched between said members and rotatably supported from said cover member by means of a pivot fastener secured through said members, said pivot fastener including means at opposite ends thereof adapted to have fiuid lines secured thereto in fluid tight sealed communication with said here.

No references cited.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A CONTAINER OF THE TYPE INCLUDING UPSTANDING SAIDE WALLS AND A FRAME-LIKE PARTIAL TOP WALL EXTENDING ABOUT AND PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND ALSO FURTHER INCLUDING FLANGE MEANS DISPOSED ABOUT AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID CLOSURE COVER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CLOSURE MEMBER ADPATED TO OVERLIE THE INNER MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME-LIKE PARTIAL TOP WALL IN FLUID TIGHT SEALED ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, CLOSURE MEMBER ANCHOR MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED RESILIENT BODY MEMBER OVERLYING SAID CLOSURE PANEL AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF DEPENDING ARM MEANS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, THE LOWER END PORTIONS OF SAID ARM MEANS INCLUDING ENGAGING MEANS ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGE MEANS AT POINTS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CONTAINER, AND COACTING ABUTMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY MEMBER AND SAID CLOSURE MEMBER MAINTAINING THE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY MEMBER SPACED INWARDLY OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION ABOVE THE MEDIAL PLANE OF SAID CLOSURE MEMBER THEREBY ADAPTING SAID BODY MEMBER, WHEN THE OPPOSITE END PORTIONS THEREOF ARE URGED DOWNWARDLY TO POSITIONS WITH SAID ENGAGING MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID FLANGE MEANS, TO FLEXED SO AS TO APPLY A DOWNWARD THRUST ON SAID CLOSURE MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER. 